Location, location, location: the golden rule in real estate

Kellen Jenkins / The Bulletin

Workers at an apartment construction site on Merchant move materials around the job site with the use of a fork lift Wednesday, August 27. The apartments, when completed, will offer more affordable housing for ESU students and Emporia community members.

Freedom and privacy are two qualities that are valued by most college students. While leaving home can be the first step in attaining both, the greatest step often comes when a student gets her or her own apartment.

“I lived in the dorms for a while but at semester I switched to Campus apartments by Subway,” said Justin Richmond, junior music/digital audio major. “A benefit of apartment living is that it provides you with a greater deal of privacy in the sense that you’re more likely to have your own room, whereas in the dorms you would have shared your space with a roommate. I also changed to apartments because there were fewer rules.”

Once students reach the college level, they are often considered and treated like adults. Richmond said he felt that, since he paid for his room in the residence halls, he should be able to use the space however he chose to.

However, students living in the residents halls must abide by a number ofrules ranging from the length of time a visitor can stay to the substances that can be kept within rooms to limitations on materials that can be used to decorate rooms.

Some students choose to live farther away from campus because the location of the apartment and its proximity to campus seems to coincide with the price of rent. Apartments close to campus tend to cost more, regardless of quality of the facilities.

“Location, location, location is the biggest key,“said Katherine Watkins, coordinator of Campus Apartments. “Truthfully, the price of rent does depend on the location and on how new the complex is. If a complex is newer and closer, of course the rent will be higher.”

While students are required to live on campus their first year, many will choose to move into an off-campus apartment at a later time, despite any disadvantages that may arise.

“Sometimes not being close to campus can be a disadvantage but you have to decide if location is worth giving up personal freedoms,” said Blaise Kriely, senior athletic training major. “Some people are willing to walk 12 blocks to school in 10 degree weather while some people won’t walk three blocks to school in 60 degree weather. So it’s really a matter of personal preference.”

However, it’s important that students take great caution when looking at the space and energy cost that the space will create. Due to greenhouse effects and the lack of natural resources energy prices have increased throughout the last year. Renters who have an “all bills paid” situation should be wary of being overcharged through increased rent.

“When deciding on how much rent should cost we evaluate the square footage and we pay the bills here so we have to calculate that into the rent as well,” said Jean Hase, manager of Heartland Apartments. “This year we have not had to increase the rent due to rising energy cost. I know that students often choose to live in our apartments because we pay all bills except cable and phone… we are located intentionally close to campus.”

Students should also consider how much they may spend on gas to drive to and from school, as well as the cost of groceries. While some students may save money by not buying a meal plan and finding cheaper food options, some students could be tempted to eat out more often and inadvertently spend more money.

“I know that when living in the dorms I was paying a good deal of money for the meal plan but often times I didn’t go eat in the cafeteria but I’d just eat something in my room that I’d already bought.” said Richmond. “So I think that by getting an apartment I saved a huge expense because I really don’t eat that much and I get to shop for things I like to eat instead of eating whatever they are serving in the cafeteria that day.”

While students may spend their first year or two living in the dorms, many find that apartment living can be a beneficial way to gain a greater sense of freedom.